Bombesin-induced desensitization of enzyme secretion in dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas

Incubating dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas with bombesin and then washing the cells to remove bombesin reduced the subsequent stimulation of amylase secretion caused by bombesin, litorin, or ranatensin by as much as 80%, but did not alter the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by cholecystokinin, carbamylcholine, A23187 or vasoactive intestinal peptide. This bombesin-induced desensitization was reversible, and the onset of the process, as well as its reversal, were time and temperature dependent. Neither desensitization or resensitization were inhibited by abolishing protein synthesis. The concentrations of bombesin required to cause desensitization were in the same range as those required to stimulate amylase secretion. Incubating pancreatic acini with vasoactive intestinal peptide did not reduce the subsequent stimulation of amylase secretion caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide, bombesin, or cholecystokinin. These results indicate that bombesin-induced desensitization of pancreatic acini reflects changes that occur at or close to the bombesin receptor.

Interaction of physalaemin, substance P, and eledoisin with specific membrane receptors on pancreatic acinar cells

We have prepared 125I-labeled physalaemin and have examined the kinetics, stoichiometry, and chemical specificity with which the labeled peptide binds to dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Binding of 125I-labeled physalaemin was saturable, temperature-dependent, and reversible and reflected interaction of the labeled peptide with a single class of binding sites on the plasma membrane of pancreatic acinar cells. Each acinar cell possessed approximately 500 binding sites, and binding of the tracer to these sites could be inhibited by physalaemin [concentration for half-maximal effect (Kd), 2 nM], substance P (Kd, 5 nM), or eledoisin (Kd, 300 nM) but not by cholecystokinin, caerulein, bombesin, litorin, gastrin, secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, glucagon, somatostatin, neurotensin, bovine pancreatic polypeptide, leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin, atropine, or carbamylcholine. With physalaemin, substance P, and eledoisin, there was a close correlation between the relative potency for inhibition of binding of labeled physalaemin and that for stimulation of amylase secretion. For a given peptide, however, a 3-fold higher concentration was required for half-maximal inhibition of binding than for half-maximal stimulation of amylase secretion, calcium outflux, or cyclic GMP accumulation. These results indicate that dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas possess a single class of receptors that interact with physalaemin, substance P, and eledoisin and that occupation of 45% of these receptors will cause a maximal biological response.

Interaction of bombesin and litorin with specific membrane receptors on pancreatic acinar cells

We have prepared (125)I-labeled [Tyr(4)]bombesin and have examined the kinetics, stoichiometry, and chemical specificity with which the labeled peptide binds to dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Binding of (125)I-labeled [Tyr(4)]-bombesin was saturable, temperature-dependent, and reversible and reflected interaction of the labeled peptide with a single class of binding sites on the plasma membrane of pancreatic acinar cells. Each acinar cell possessed approximately 5000 binding sites, and binding of the tracer to these sites could be inhibited by [Tyr(4)]bombesin [concentration for half-maximal effect (Kd), 2 nM], bombesin (Kd, 4 nM), or litorin (Kd, 40 nM) but not by eledoisin, physalemin, somatostatin, carbachol, atropine, secretin, vasocative intestinal peptide, neurotensin, or bovine pancreatic polypeptide. At high concentrations (>0.1 muM), cholecystokinin and caerulein each caused a small (15-20%) reduction in binding of lableled [Tyr(4)]bombesin. With bombesin, litorin, and [Tyr(4)]bombesin, there was a close correlation between the relative potency for inhibition of binding of labeled [Tyr(4)]bombesin and that for stimulation of amylase secretion. For a given peptide, however, a 10-fold higher concentration was required for half-maximal inhibition of binding than for half-maximal stimulation of amylase secretion, calcium outflux, or cyclic GMP accumulation. These results indicate that dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas possess a single class of receptors that interact with [Tyr(4)]bombesin, bombesin, and litorin and that occupation of 25% of these receptors will cause a maximal biological response.

Increased sulfation and decreased 7alpha-hydroxylation of deoxycholic acid in ethinyl estradiol-induced cholestasis in rats

Deoxycholic acid conjugation, transport capacity, and metabolism were compared in control and ethinyl estradiol-treated rats. Control rats were found to have a lower capacity to transport deoxycholic acid than taurodeoxycholic acid, and both were decreased by ethinyl estradiol treatment. During [24-14C]sodium deoxycholate infusion, [14C]biliary bile acid secretion increased, but bile flow did not change significantly in either control or ethinyl estradiol-treated rats. Ethinyl estradiol-treated animals excreted significantly less 14C as taurocholic acid than did control animals, consistent with an impairment of 7alpha-hydroxylation of taurodeoxycholic acid. Ethinyl estradiol treatment did not impair conjugation of deoxycholic acid, but did result in an increase in sulfation of taurodeoxycholic acid from 1.5% in controls to nearly 4.0% (P less than 0.01). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the rat has a poorer tolerance for deoxycholic acid than do certain other species. Furthermore, the rat converts deoxycholic acid, a poor choleretic, to taurocholic acid, a good choleretic. When this conversion is impaired with ethinyl estradiol treatment, sulfation may be an important alternate pathway for excretion of this potentially harmful bile acid.